Israel is a country well accustomed to imbroglios and complex political circumstances, but it seems that the current situation faced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government breaks all previous records. Until about half a year ago, everyone thought that Netanyahu (Bibi) would rule eternally; his name alone shone at the top of the survey tables. No one else even approached the relatively high ratings Netanyahu received from the public, especially regarding the critical question asked in Israeli opinion polls: the candidate’s suitability for the role of premier. Netanyahu was practically alone, almost reaching 50% when those next in line received only single-digit numbers.

Meanwhile, several things happened in Israel.

The first and most important was the shattering of the relative sense of security enjoyed by Israelis in the last six years of Netanyahu’s rule. During the Protective Edge campaign, residents of the Tel Aviv and central Dan area were also subject to the wrath of rockets, and Israel’s most important (and only) metropolis became an area under fire for many long weeks. While this reality lapsed at the end of the summer, its memory remains indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of many Israelis. Until recently, Tel Aviv was viewed as immune to security threats, with the notable exception of the first Gulf War (1991) when, for a short time, Saddam Hussein launched several dozen Scud missiles on Israel. Tel Aviv is an Israeli bubble, teeming and bustling with life and cultural activities, enjoying a hedonistic and cosmopolitan atmosphere. And then all that went up in the smoke of the rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Luckily there was almost no loss of life, thanks to the unbelievable success of the Iron Dome air defense system, but hundreds of thousands of Israelis inhaled the scent of asphalt several times each day, when they were forced to lie face down on the roads every time an alert was heard. Each time, they covered their heads with their hands and hoped that the Iron Dome would succeed in its mission this time as well.

After the summer's war, Netanyahu’s ratings practically plummeted to half their original level regarding the critical question of "suitability for the role of premier." He has not clambered back up to his original spot — on the contrary. The prime minister has also plummeted in the survey that assesses the number of mandates his party will receive. But the most worrisome issue, as far as Netanyahu is concerned, can be discovered in the additional question that was posed in recent surveys: “Are you in favor of Prime Minister Netanyahu being re-elected for another term of office?” In a poll conducted at the end of October, more than 60% of the respondents answered that they were not in favor. This is a negative critical mass that is forming around Netanyahu.